The US fluorspar market strengthened further in July as persistent demand from hydrofluoric acid producers and refrigerant manufacturers coincided with firmer import costs and tightening spot availability. After June's steady recovery, July trading gained additional momentum as buyers replenished inventories ahead of seasonal maintenance across fluorochemical facilities. Supply from Mexico and South Africa remained stable, but higher mining costs, elevated freight expenses, and constrained spot cargoes limited immediate availability, allowing suppliers to maintain firmer offers. Demand from hydrofluoric acid, aluminum fluoride, lithium battery materials, and refrigerant producers remained resilient, while improving U.S. rail freight activity supported inland deliveries despite higher transportation costs. Fluorspar CFR Houston prices increased, reflecting balanced supply fundamentals and healthy downstream consumption. Looking ahead, August prices are expected to remain firm with a moderate upward bias as hydrofluoric acid production, refrigerant demand, and battery-material consumption continue to support procurement, although improved logistics and steady import arrivals could moderate further gains.
Selenis has effectively manufactured recycled PET chips using terephthalic acid sourced from Circ®, a textile-to-textile recycler based in Virginia. The chip production took place through a series of batches at Selenis' pilot plant in San-Giorgio, Italy. By utilizing inputs recovered from polycotton textile waste, Selenis has created high-quality PET chip, which has been further processed into DTY yarn. This yarn will play a crucial role in product development as Circ prepares for additional capsule launches. Selenis is leveraging the success of this initial collaboration phase and is committed to advancing towards an offtake partnership to support Circ's inaugural industrial facility.
Eduardo Santos, Head of Corporate Strategy at Selenis, remarked that the monomer synthesis showed a performance comparable to virgin terephthalic acid. He expressed optimism about the consistent quality of Circ's monomer output and anticipated future commercial success. Santos pointed out that the Circ partnership complements Selenis's existing mission and goals for a more sustainable textile industry. He further stated their anticipation of expanding upon this collaboration and providing support for Circ's forthcoming commercial production trials.
